Side frame for car trucks



Jul. 15, 1929.

F, w. LEwls SIDE FRAME FOR CAR-TRUCKS- Filed March '7, 1928 `2 Sheets-Sheet 1 n L m.

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F. W. LEWIS SIDE FRAME FOR GAR TRUCKS Jan. 15, 1929,

Filed March 7, 1928 2 sheets-sheet 2 aucun/mf Patented `=lan. :15, 1929.

, 1,699,299 PATENT OFFICE.

UNITED STATES FRANK W.` LEWIS, F DAVENPORT, IOWA, ASSIG-NOR T0 vTHE BETTENDORFCOMPANY,

, OF BETTENDORF, IOWA., A CORPORATION OF IOWA.

SIDE FRAME -FOR CAR TRUCKS.

appucaun mea kann 7, 192s. serai No.l 259,678.

Y -This invention relates to sidedrames for car trucks and has :tonite object to provide a one-piece side frame ii'iiwhich the'tensionl and compression members aijeLsowconstructed and so joined at rthe ends (if the frame that the compression and tension'stressesare substantially balancedA in the end portions of the frame directly over the journal boxes and sodistributed that ther-load is imposed lo on the journal boxes centrally thereoi` without crowning .or` otherwise destroying the journal boxes.

' Other objects are to provide a'side frame castinv of such form that it maybe made in a mold having simple and easily positioned cores and, in addition, to provide a casting of such form that in the casting operation,

the molten metal flows. readily to all portions of the casting, so that the danger of developing flaws in making the casting are substantially eliminated A further object is to provide a cast side frame havinga compression member so joined to the tension member and the journal boxes that the compression and tension stresses are substantially balanced in the end vportions of the frame centrally. over 'the journal boxes. j

With the above and other objects in view,

3o the invention may be said'to comprise the structure as illustrated in the accom anying drawings hereinafter described an particularly set forth in the appended claims,

. together with such variations and modifications thereof as will be apparent to one skilled in the art to which the invention ap? pertains. Reference should be had to the accompanyingrdrawingsjforming. a part of this 40 specification in which:`

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view showing an end portion oi'- a truck frame embodying the invention ,in longitudinal section, the section being taken on the line indicated at 1-^1 in Fig. 2.

' 2 is a` 'fragmentary topl plan view showing one end of the side frame.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line indicated at 3,-3 in Fig. 1.

Fi 4; is a section-takenon the line indicate at 4-4 in Fig. 1..

In the accompanying drawings, one-half only of the siden trame is shown, since the opposite ends are identical, as well under te stood in the art.

' VThe side frame of the present invention is a .onepiece casting' of truss form having a compression member l, which may `be straight, and a tension member 2,"-which lmerge into an extension?) at each end of the frame, to which a journal box 4 is integrally united. A tension member Qhas a horizontal central portion '5, which forms a sup ort for one` end of the spring plank upon W ich the bolster lsupporting s rings are seated. The central port-.ion 5 of t e tension member is `connected at each end with an end portion 3 of the frame, through an upwardly inclined portion Gat each end thereof. The tension member'is connected withvthe compression member 1 by an integral column 7 adjacent each end of the central portion 5,

inner ends 4of theinclined portions 6 of the tension members, and formino' the opposite sides of a central opening in the side frame, which receives the truck bolster.

The compression member, -as shown .in

4the column 7 being integral with the lower" Fig. 3,' is of channel form in cross section, Y

having a web 8 on the upper side thereof and ,y

vertical. side flanges 9 depending fromthe web, the lower ed es of the flanges being provided'jwith at ickened or beaded edge portion' 10, which serves to increase the rilgidity and strength of the compression mem- The tension member 2 is also of channel form in cross section and may have its chan- 'nel facing either upwardly or downwardly.

As shown herein, the tension member has on'its underside a web 11 and vertical side 4 flanges l2 extend upwardly from the web 1l, the cross sectional'form of the tension member being substantially the same as that of the compression member. The side flanges 9 and 12 of he compression and ten--V sion members merge into side walls 13 of the end portion 3 of the frame, which are relatively deep -as compared to vflanges 9 and l2. The side walls 13 at the ends o the frame are integrally united 'with the journal boxesl across the top of lthe journal box and part way down the inner side of the journal box; the web 11 of the tensionch'ord extending to the side wall of therjournal box and being integrally united therewith.

The end portions 3 ofthe side frame are rounded over the top of the journal box and termina-te adjacent the outer'side of the journal box. The upper `portions of the side i and to protect the journal box from stresses the' center of the journal walls 13 being joinedbyanint'egral web 14,

which is separated from the web'8 ofthe ateach end, a downwardly inclined exten? sion 17, which extends beneath the opening 15 and web 14 to a point spaced above the journal box andlocated substantially over box. The extension 17 has a bifurcated -end .portion formed by a tapered recess18 so thatthe end of the extension ternziinatesin whichimerge into theside walls.

tapering ribs 19,

Thev web 14 is preferably. provided with 1 yan opening 20 between its outer end and 2ol the upper edgeof the journal box, this openhas tapering end' portions 21 merging into the side walls 13, at the top of the' journal ox. o The openings 15 and 20`and the space between the lower end offt/ e extension 17 and the top of the journal ox permit the. core `sand to'be readily removed from the casting and also greatly simplify` the construction and'assembly of the mold cores. N'It willthus be seen that the reinforcing web 1 7 extends downwardly over lthe journal boxand terminates substantially-at its intersection with the rojected neutral axis of the tension mem ver at a point centrally over the journal box. v`Ihe bifurcated ends of theweb 14 of `the compression chord and of the reinforcing web 17 providing the tapering f ribs 'merging into the side walls serve to evenl distribute the stresses at the end of the frame which would otherwise create distortion therein. In addition, the end of the frame end portions integral with is so formed that the metal will readily flow toany portion of the'casting in a mold built up to form the casting, so that danger of creating flaws o r cracks vin the casting are substantially eliminated.

Furthermore,'it isto be understood that the particular form of apparatus shownand described, and the particular procedure set forth, are presented for purposes ofexplana' tion vand illustration-and that various modiflcations of said apparatus and procedure can be made without departing from my invention,'as defined in the appended claims.

`1.A -A truck frame having journal boxes yat the ends thereof, top and sion and tension members the compression and tension members and extending across the tops of the journal boxes, said members being of channel form and said end portions having side walls into which the flanges of tions having side wallsiianges of the compression and tension mein lbers merge, a reinforcing ing being alsoof a` form such that the web portions and overlyin pression member of bottom comprescastin one piece,

l tion, said reinforcing webs extending downwardly from the web of the compression member at an inclination thereto and hav` ing their ends terminating over said journal boxes and `carried by the side walls of the compression member.

2. A truck frame having journal boxes at the ends thereof, top and bottom compression and tension members cast in one piece, end portions integral with the compression and tension'members and extending across the tops vof the journal boxes, saidmembers being ofchannel form and said end porinto which the web' extending across the. space between the side walls of each; end portion, said reinforcing webs extending downwardly from the web of the compression member at an inclination thereto and terminating over said journal boxed ata point substantially central with respect to the journalbox `and projected neutral axes of the tension `member, and a .web connecting the upper edges yofthe side walls of each end portion and overlying the reinforcing web.

3. A truck frame having journal boxes at the ends thereof, top and bottom compression and tension 'members end portions integral withthe compression Iand tension members and extending across the tops of the journal boxes, said members being of channel form and'said end portions having side walls Yinto which the `anges of the compression and tension mem'- bers merge, a reinforcing web 'extending' across the space between the side walls of .each end portion, said reinforcing webs extending downwardly from the web of the compression member at 'an inclination thereto and terminating substantially over the axesof said journal boxes, the end of each reinforcing Vweb beingspaced from the top ofthe journal box, and webs connecting the upper edges of. the side walls of the end the reinforcing vwebs, each web having bi urcated end portions forming openings, adjacent the outer edges of the journal boxes and over the inner ends ofsaid reinforcing webs.

4.A one-piece cast truck frame having journal boxes at the ends thereof, a comchannel form having downwardly extending ianges, a tension member of channel' having side walls into which the flanges of said members merge, said side walls. being integrally united with the journal box across the top and at the inner` side thereof, and a, reinforcing web forming a continuation of the web of the compression member and substantially'in the cast in one piece,

form, an endportion formed integrally with the side walls, said reinforcing web extendingdownwardly between said vside walls at 'an 'inclination to said web of the compression member toa point substantially over 'the center of the 'journal box.

5. A one-piece cast trucl: frame having journal boxes at the ends thereof, a compression member of channel formhaving downwardly extending flanges, a tensionV member of channel form, an end portion having side walls into which the flanges of said members merge, said side walls being integrally united with the journal box across the top and at the inner side thereof, and a reinforcing web forming a continuation of, the web of the compression member andY formed integrally with the side walls, said reinforcing web extending downwardly between said sidewalls at an inclination-to said web of the compression member to a point substantially over the center of the Journal box, the outer end of said reinforcing web being bifurcated to provide tapering end portions merging into the side walls.

6. A` one-piece cast truck frame having y journal boxes at the ends thereof, a 'compression member of channel form` having -said side walls at an inclination to said web of the compression member to a point substantially over the center 'of the journal box, and a web joining the top portlons ofsaid side walls above said reinforcingfweb, the ends of said web being bifurcated to rovide end portions mergingV into the si e wall adjacent said reinorclng web and adjacent the outer edge of the journal box and to provide openings to the interior of the casting over .the journal box. y

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

l FRANK W. LEWIS. 

